by zs180 » Tue Jul 14, 2026 3:24 pm
Let me present my latest diorama showing HMS York, HMS Ajax and HMS Gloxinia at Souda Bay. After all three models had been completed I started working on the diorama. I wanted to show an anchorage to represent a calm sea rippled by a light breeze. I glued artist’s watercolour paper to the base, then cut out the individual ships’ outlines.
I airbrushed several layers of blue and green shades over the base, some of them obliquely to accentuate the “waves” created by the paper’s texture.
The base was covered by clear varnish from a rattle can. As a next layer acrylic gel was added to simulate the small ripples.
Two ships are shown tied to buoys, four of which were scratch built using plastic rings and some wire. These were painted, weathered and attached to the base while the acrylic gel was applied. The third ship (HMS York) is shown underway at slow speed, accordingly white paint was sparingly brushed around her cut out shape and to her wake. After screwing the three ships to the base, any gaps were filled with more acrylic gel, then a barge was glued along HMS Ajax’s starboard side, complete with crates, barrels and some crew members. Booms and accommodation ladders were also added at this stage along with three boats alongside HMS Ajax, and one, ready to be lifted aboard, HMS Gloxinia completing the diorama.
Let me present my latest diorama showing HMS York, HMS Ajax and HMS Gloxinia at Souda Bay. After all three models had been completed I started working on the diorama. I wanted to show an anchorage to represent a calm sea rippled by a light breeze. I glued artist’s watercolour paper to the base, then cut out the individual ships’ outlines.
[attachment=9]20260412_221138.jpg[/attachment]
I airbrushed several layers of blue and green shades over the base, some of them obliquely to accentuate the “waves” created by the paper’s texture.
[attachment=8]20260414_165041.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=7]20260414_165838.jpg[/attachment]
The base was covered by clear varnish from a rattle can. As a next layer acrylic gel was added to simulate the small ripples.
[attachment=6]20260418_105015.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=5]20260418_105020.jpg[/attachment]
Two ships are shown tied to buoys, four of which were scratch built using plastic rings and some wire. These were painted, weathered and attached to the base while the acrylic gel was applied. The third ship (HMS York) is shown underway at slow speed, accordingly white paint was sparingly brushed around her cut out shape and to her wake. After screwing the three ships to the base, any gaps were filled with more acrylic gel, then a barge was glued along HMS Ajax’s starboard side, complete with crates, barrels and some crew members. Booms and accommodation ladders were also added at this stage along with three boats alongside HMS Ajax, and one, ready to be lifted aboard, HMS Gloxinia completing the diorama.
[attachment=4]DSC_9621.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=3]DSC_9622.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=2]DSC_9623.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=1]DSC_9624.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=0]DSC_9625.jpg[/attachment]